Automobile opera window installation apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

The quarter panel and headliner of an automobile having openings cut therein, and the flange of a stepped outer ring is secured to the inner surface of the quarter panel. A flanged inner ring is inserted through the headliner opening and telescopes into the outer ring, adequate clearance being provided between the rings to allow for angular adjustments. The space between the telescoped rings is filled with adhesive, the vinyl roof on the automobile is secured in place within the outer ring, and a glass panel and a trim ring are installed in the step of the outer ring with adhesive to complete the installation.

United States Patent [191 Krueger AUTOMOBILE OPERA WINDOW INSTALLATIONAPPARATUS AND METHOD [76] Inventor: Henry B. Krueger, 1105 Barbara St.,Redondo Beach, Calif. 90277 [22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:281,967

52 US. Cl 296/146, 29/428, 52/204, 52/208, 52/212 51 Int. Cl B60j 1/08[58] Field of Search", 296/146, 28 R; 52/204, 208, 212; 49/504; 115/117;29/428 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,586 5/1941Thompson 296/63 2,996,767 8/1961 Kobil et a1. 52/212 1,977,788 10/1934Allen 52/208 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 934,858 8/1963 GreatBritain 114/177 Dec. 4, 1973 Primary Examinerl(enneth H. Betts AssistantExaminer-John A. Pekar Attorney-Albert L. Gabriel [57 ABSTRACT Thequarter panel and headliner of an automobile having openings cuttherein, and the flange of a stepped outer ring is secured to the innersurface of the quarter panel. A flanged inner ring is inserted throughthe headliner opening and telescopes into the outer ring, adequateclearance being provided between the rings to allow for angularadjustments. The space between the telescoped rings is filled withadhesive, the vinyl roof on the automobile is secured in place withinthe outer ring, and a glass panel and a trim ring are installed in thestep of the outer ring with adhesive to complete the installation.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures AUTOMOBILE OPERA WINDOW INSTALLATIONAPPARATUS AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention relates generally to the provision ofwindows in automobiles, and more particularly to a method and apparatusfor installing so-called opera windows in the quarter panel of anautomobile.

2. Description of the Prior Art The quarter panels of an automobile arelocated in the opposite rear corners of the passenger compartment, abovethe fenders and between the rear edge of the side windows and the panelcontaining the rear window. The quarter panels commonly create a visionblockage for persons riding in the automobile, and thus particularly inexpensive automobiles so-called opera windows are now sometimes providedin the panels. In addition, quite often automobiles equipped with suchopera windows will also have their top covered with a fabric or plasticsheet, which is secured thereto by adhesive, and which will begenerically referred to herein as a vinyl roof. An automobile with avinyl roof and opera windows is regarded as being very distinctive inappearance, and thus persons unable to afford an expensive automobileare nevertheless interested in having these distinctive features addedto their vehicle.

The opera windows found in expensive automobiles are commonly factoryinstalled, and the assembly itself is tailored by the manufacturer to aspecific automobile body. Thus, such assemblies are usually unsuited foruse by persons who desire to customize an automobile by adding operawindows, and indeed the assembly made for one make of automobile usuallycannot be adapted for installation on an automobile made by anothermanufacturer.

Given the growing desire to equip a variety of automobiles with operawindows, and the general unsuitability of the windows utilized by themanufacturers of expensive automobiles for use in customizing work,there is need for a method and apparatus that can be quickly andeconomically employed to install such opera windows on the quarterpanels of substantially any make of automobile. The present invention isdirected toward satisfying that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method and apparatus of the presentinvention are adaptable for use on many different makes of automobiles,and thus are substantially universal in nature. The apparatus includesan outer ring having a stepped interior and an external flange on itsouter end, and an inner ring that is telescopically receivable withinthe smaller portion of the stepped outer ring with substantial clearancetherebetween, the inner ring also having an external flange. The ringscan have a circular or oval cross-section, whatever is preferred for theopera windows.

In practicing the method of the invention, the interior trim andheadliner are removed from the automobile to expose the quarter deck,and the vinyl roof is peeled back off the panel, if one is alreadyinstalled.

An opening is then cut in the quarter panel, and the flange of the outerring is riveted or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the quarterpanel. An opening is then cut in the headliner, and any necessarypainting of the inner ring to match the automobiles interior colorscheme is done. The inner ring is then inserted through the headlineropening, and is telescoped within the reduced portion of the outer ring.

Usually the plane of the quarter panel will not be parallel with theplane of the headliner covering the quarter panel, but rather there willbe an angle therebetween. It is to accommodate this angle, and give asmooth fit on the headliner, that the inner ring is substantiallysmaller than the smaller end of the stepped outer ring. This differencein size is chosen to be sufficient to allow for angular adjustmentsover. a 360 range so that nearly any automobile can be accommodated, butis not so great that it cannot be effectively sealed with an adhesive.

The next step of the method is to inject an adhesive into the spacebetween the telescoped portions of the inner and outer rings, the innerring then being clamped in place until the adhesive has set. Then, theedges of the vinyl roof are folded into the outer end of the steppedouter ring and secured by adhesive, following which a glass panel isseated on the step and secured by adhesive. Finally, a metallic trimring is cemented in place over the glass panel, to complete theinstallation.

It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for installing opera windows on the quarter panel ofnearly any automobile, the method and apparatus being substantiallyuniversally adaptable, and being easily used by a person of averageskill.

Another object is to provide apparatus for use in placing an operawindow on the quarter panel of an automobile, which is economical tomanufacture and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more clearly understood from the accompanyingdrawings, when taken in conjunction with the following Description ofthe Preferred Embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the quarter panel of anautomobile having a vinyl roof, and fitted with an oval opera windowconstructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a circular opera window;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1,showing in detail the construction of the oval opera window.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4in FIG. 3, showing in particular how the components of the apparatus aresecured together by adhesive;

FIG. 5 shows the first step of the method of the invention, wherein anoval shaped opening has been cut in the quarter panel, and a series ofholes have been drilled around the periphery thereof to receive mountingrivets;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but with the outer ring riveted inplace;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 in FIG. 6, showingthe stepped outer ring mounted on the quarter panel;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the headliner and the inner ring installed inposition, with adhesive placed between the telescoped portions of theinner and outer rings,

and with clamping members holding the inner ring in position until theadhesive dries;

FIG. 9 is a view showing the vinyl roof installed and the edges thereofsecured in place within the outer portion of the outer ring, withadhesive in place on the step of the outer ring to receive the glasspanel; and

FIG. 10 shows the final step of the method, wherein adhesive has beenplaced on the periphery of the glass panel, and the metallic trim ringis about to be installed to complete the installation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,an automobile is indicated at 2 in FIG. 1, and includes a quarter panel4 located behind the rear window 6, above the fender 8. The top of theautomobile 2 has a vinyl roof 10 secured thereto by adhesive, and thequarter panel 4 carries an oval opera window 12 constructed according tothe present invention.

It is to be understood that the shape of the opera window is largely amatter of personal taste, and that such can be oval as in FIG. 1, orcircular, as shown at 12 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the opera window 12 of FIG. 1 is seen toinclude an outer ring 14 having an external flange 16, and a steppedring portion that includes a large outer portion 18, a radial flange orstep 20, and a smaller inner portion 22. The flange 16 of the outer ring14 is fitted against the inner surface of the quarter panel 4 about anoval opening 24 cut therein, the outer ring being secured to the panel 4by rivets 26 passed through aligned openings 28 and 30 provided in theflange l6 and the panel 4, respectively.

In addition to the quarter panel 4, the top of a standard automobilewill also normally have some interior metal 32 spaced from the panel 4.Such interior metal must be cut away to provide an opening 34 therein ofa size to accept the flange 16 on the outer ring 14, so that such can bepassed therethrough for mounting on the quarter panel 4.

The opera window assembly 12 also includes an inner ring 36, comprisinga ring portion 38 of substantially uniform dimension and having anexternal flange 40 on the outer end thereof. The inner and outer rings36 and 14 can be made of any suitable material, but are preferablymolded from plastic, and the inner ring portion 38 has substantiallysmaller external dimensions than the internal dimensions of the reducedportion 22 of the outer ring 14. This difference in dimensions betweenthe two rings 14 and 36 allows the plane of the flange 40 to be cantedrelative to the plane of the flange 16, whereby to accommodate fordifferent orientations found from automobile to automobile between theplane of the headliner 42 and the plane of the quarter panel 4.

The headliner 42 is mounted within the interior of the automobile 2, andconstitutes the interior finish thereof. In order to accommodate theinner ring 36, the headliner 42 has an opening 44 cut therein of a sizeto slidingly receive the ring portion 38, the inner ring 36 being cantedwhen installed so that the flange 40 engages the headliner 42 about theopening 44 to provide an attractive appearance.

The inner and outer rings 36 and 14 are secured together by an adhesive46 injected into the space between the telescoped portions thereof, andallowed to harden. While the adhesive selected is a matter of choice, asilicone adhesive like that commonly used in automotive window workshould be employed.

The vinyl roof 10 has a hole cut therein to overlie the opening 24 inthe quarter panel 4, and the edges 48 of said vinyl roof lying about theopening cut therein are folded inwardly to overlie the inner surface ofthe outer ring 14 and are glued in place with adhesive. A glass panel 50is secured to the step 20 of the outer ring 14 by adhesive, and anannular body 52 of adhesive is placed around the outer periphery of theglass panel 50 to seal the same, and to secure in place an annular trimring 54 made of metal, and including a tapered main portion 56 havinginturned flanges 58 and 60 thereon that engage the adehsive body 52 andinterlock therewith.

The size of the opera window 12 is of course a matter of choice.However, in order to provide a better understanding of the invention, atypical inner ring 36 for an oval window 12 will have a flange 40measuring about 14 inches wide by about 6 /4 inches in height, and thering portion 38 thereof will measure about 12% inches wide by about 5inches in height, with a length of about 1% inches. The spacing betweenthe inner ring portion 38 and the smaller portion 22 of the outer ring14 will vary, and must be sufficiently great to allow adequate cantingof the flange 40 over 360, while not so great as to prevent effectiveadhesion and sealing by the adhesive 46. A spacing. of aboutone-sixteenth of an inch for the example just described has been foundacceptable, and adequate to provide proper canting of the flange 40.

Turning now to FIGS. 5-10 in particular, the method of the presentinvention will be described. It is to be understood that the operawindow 12 (or 12) can be installed on an automobile 2 already equippedwith a vinyl roof 10, or to which such a roof is to be applied inconjunctionn with the installation of the window. In the first instance,the first step of the method is to peel back the vinyl roof, to exposethe exterior surface of the quarter panel.

Access must be had to the interior of the quarter panel 4 also, and thusalso in the first step of the method the interior trim and the headlinerare removed from the automobile.

With access being had to the interior and the exterior of the quarterpanel, the first step of the method is completed. In the second step theopening 24 is cut in the quarter panel 4 to accommodate the outer ring14. In cutting the opening 24, such must be so positioned as to berearward enough of the rear side window 6 that the mechanical operationthereof is not interfered with in any respect. The opening 24 willnormally be cut from outside the panel 4, using metal shears.

Metal 32 inside the panel 4 is then cut away, as with an air chisel, toprovide an opening 34 of sufficient size to allow the flange 16 to bepassed therethrough, and rivet holes 30 are drilled around the peripheryof the opening 24, using a suitable template. In the next step of themethod the outer ring 14 is installed with the rivets 26, a siliconeadhesive being placed between the flange l6 and the inner surface of thequarter panel 4.

The assembly at this stage of the method appears as in FIGS. 6 and 7,and the edge of the opening 24 is then ground so that it will not damagethe vinyl roof. The next step of the method is to cut the opening in theheadliner panel 42. In order to do such, the headliner is firsttemporarily placed back in position, and the outline of the opening 44is then traced thereon, using the outer ring 14 as a guide. The opening44 is then cut, and the headliner 42 is reinstalled. Following this, theinner ring 36 is installed, such having been previously painted to matchthe interior colors of the automobile, if such is desired.

The ring portion 38 is telescoped into the outer ring smaller portion22, and the flange 40 is canted so that such engages the headliner 42.Then, silicone adhesive 46 is injected into the space between the twotelescoped members, and the inner ring 36 is claimed in position untildry.

The manner in which the inner ring is clamped in position is shown inFIG. 8, wherein a plate 70 is placed on the step 20, and a second plate72 is placed over the flange 40, the two plates 70 and 72 beingconnected by a bolt 76 having a wing nut 78 thereon that is easilytightened to exert the clamping pressure.

The next step of the method is to install the vinyl roof, so that theedges 48 thereof about an opening cut therein to accommodate the window12 are adhesively secured within the outer ring 14. For an automobilewith a vinyl roof already installed, this step merely involves cuttingan opening in the peeled away portion of the vinyl, and regluing thatportion in position. Usually, a contact cement is utilized for thispurpose.

Where the vehicle did not' originally have a vinyl roof, then in thisstep of the method the vinyl roof is installed.

The next step is to place the window panel 50 in position, and to dothis silicone adhesive 51 is first spread on the step 20, after whichthe panel 50 is pressed into position. Then, a mass 52 of the siliconeadhesive is placed about the periphery of the glass panel, to insureproper sealing thereof, and to secure the metallic trim ring 56, whichis thereafter installed as the final step of the method. Of course, anyexcess adhesive must then be cleaned away.

From the foregoing, it it seen that a method and apparatus have beenprovided whereby opera windows can be easily installed on nearly anyautomobile, readily and with a resultant window that is very attractivein appearance.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible.

I claim:

1. An opera window for installation on the quarter panel of anautomobile, said quarter panel having an opening cut therein, and saidautomobile having a headliner therein spaced from said quarter panel andprovided with an opening in alignment with said panel opening, saidopera window incuding: an outer ring having an external flange thereon,said flange being attachable to the interior of said quarter panel aboutsaid opening therein; means for attaching said external flange of saidouter ring to said quarter panel; and inner ring having an externalflange thereon, said inner ring being substantially smaller in diameterthan said outer ring and being inset-table through said opening in saidheadliner to loosely telescope within said outer ring, whereby saidinner ring is substantially universally adjustable within said outerring over a range of angular positions until said external flange onsaid inner ring abuts with said headliner; means for securing saidtelescoped portions of said inner and outer rings together, effective insubstantially any angular position of said inner ring within said outerring; and a glass panel, said glass panel being mountable within saidouter ring.

2. An opera window as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer ring isstepped, and said glass panel is seatable on said step.

3. An opera window as recited in claim 1, wherein said means forsecuring together said telescope portions of said inner and outer ringsis an adhesive.

4. An opera window as recited in claim 1, including additionally anannular trim ring securable within said outer ring over the periphery ofsaid glass panel.

5. An opera window as recited in claim 1, wherein said inner and outerrings and said glass panel are oval.

6. An opera window as recited in claim 1, wherein said inner and outerrings and said glass panel are circular.

7. An opera window for installation on the quarter panel of anautomobile, said quarter panel having an opening cut therein, and saidautomobile having a headliner therein spaced from said quarter panel andprovided with an opening in alignment with said panel opening, saidopera window including: a stepped outer ring having an external flangethereon, said flange being attached by rivets to the interior of saidquarter panel about said opening therein; an inner ring having anexternal flange thereon, said inner ring being insertable through saidopening in said headliner to loosely telescope within said outer ring,until said flange thereon abuts with said headliner; adhesive placedbetween the telescoped portions of said inner and outer rings to securesuch together; a glass panel seatable upon said step in said outer ring;adhesive between said glass panel and said step for securing said glasspanel in position; a mass of adhesive placed about the periphery of saidglass panel within said outer ring, and serving to seal said glasspanel; and a trim ring received within said outer ring, and pressed intosaid mass of adhesive for securing the same in position.

1. An opera window for installation on the quarter panel of anautomobile, said quarter panel having an opening cut therein, and saidautomobile having a headliner therein spaced from said quarter panel andprovided with an opening in alignment with said panel opening, saidopera window incuding: an outer ring having an external flange thereon,said flange being attachable to the interior of said quarter panel aboutsaid opening therein; means for attaching said external flange of saidouter ring to said quarter panel; and inner ring having an externalflange thereon, said inner ring being substantially smaller in diameterthan said outer ring and being insertable through said opening in saidheadliner to loosely telescope within said outer ring, whereby saidinner ring is substantially universally adjustable within said outerring over a range of angular positions until said external flange onsaid inner ring abuts with said headliner; means for securing saidtelescoped portions of said inner and outer rings together, effective insubstantially any angular position of said inner ring within said outerring; and a glass panel, said glass panel being mountable within saidouter ring.
 2. An opera window as recited in claim 1, wherein said outerring is stepped, and said glass panel is seatable on said step.
 3. Anopera window as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for securingtogether said telescope portions of said inner and outer rings is anadhesive.
 4. An opera window as recited in claim 1, includingadditionally an annular trim ring securable within said outer ring overthe periphery of said glass panel.
 5. An opera window as recited inclaim 1, wherein said inner and outer rings and said glass panel areoval.
 6. An opera window as recited in claim 1, wherein said inner andouter rings and said glass panel are circular.
 7. An opera window forinstallation on the quarter panel of an automobile, said quarter panelhaving an opening cut therein, and said automobile having a headlinertherein spaced from said quarter panel and provided with an opening inalignment with said panel opening, said opera window including: astepped outer ring having an external flange thereon, said flange beingattached by rivets to the interior of said quarter panel about saidopening therein; an inner ring having an external flange thereon, saidinner ring being insertable through said opening in said headliner toloosely telescope within said outer ring, until said flange thereonabuts with said headliner; adhesive placed between the telescopedportions of said inner and outer rings to secure such together; a glasspanel seatable upon said step in said outer ring; adhesive between saidglass panel and said step for securing said glass panel in position; amass of adhesive placed about the periphery of said glass panel withinsaid outer ring, and serving to seal said glass panel; and a trim ringreceived within said outer ring, and pressed into said mass of adhesivefor securing the same in position.